Chance contest cards and method of using same



July 5, 1966 T. F. BLONDELL 3,

CHANCE CONTEST CARDS AND METHOD OF USING SAME Filed May 25, 1964 I NVEN TOR.

Jhomas FBlondell United States Patent 3,259,389 CHANCE CONTEST CARDS AND METHOD OF USING SAME Thomas F. Blondell, 2408 W.T., 300 N. State St., Chicago, 1]]. Filed May 25, 1964, Ser. No. 369,877 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-138) This application is a continuation-in-part of my pending application Serial No. 358,577, filed April 9, 1964 and now abandoned.

The invention relates to improvements in entertainment devices and more particularly to the method of playing a game and means and devices used to facilitate audience participation in a television program.

More particularly, the invention is concerned with providing members of the viewing audience with card devices which are intended for matching with a pattern or image that is periodically televised along with or apart from a television program. Viewers holding such cards as match with the televised pattern are considered to be winners of the game.

Because television receiver screens vary in size from about 16 to 23 inches or more diagonally, it is necessary in the playing of the game that the pattern or image televised be of the same shape and of an effective size on all screens so as to permit matching of the image with viewers cards of uniform size. Because variations in televised image size occur in all directions radially from a given point, the image or pattern is designed to assume the form of a spoke or spokes of a wheel. In this manner their circumferential degree relationship will not change with various image sizes but instead the spoke or spokes will increase in length as the size of the pattern increases, and visa versa.

Similarly, the viewers cards, which are generally opaque, will bear transparent areas in the form of spokes so that a selected spoke or spokes will match one or more spokes of the televised pattern when placed thereover. As an alternative the spokes can be omitted in the viewers card and a clear circular area provided with suitable indicia or symbols on the peripheral margin of the area to insure register with the spokes of the televised pattern.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a viewers card which can be matched with an image appearing on a television screen irrespective of the size of the image.

Another object is to provide a novel playing card for use in association with the televised program.

Another object is to provide, in a game, the combination of an image displayed on a televison screen and a viewers participation card formed to permit matching identification of predetermined portions of said image.

Another object is to provide a game device that has widespread appeal, is not expensive to manufacture or televise, and which is simple to play and very entertainmg.

Another object is to provide a novel method for playing a game.

The structure and means by which the above noted and other advantages and objects of the invention are attained will be described in the accompanying specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, showing preferred illustrative embodiments of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary television receiver, showing an examplary pattern or image displayed on the screen thereof.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the pattern shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a face view of a representative viewers card.

FIG. 4 is a view showing the card of FIG. 3 overlying the pattern as it appears on a small sized television screen.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the card of FIG. 3 overlying the pattern as it appears on a large sized television screen.

FIG. 6 is a face view of a modified form of viewers card.

FIG. 7 is a view of a television screen having an animated image projected thereon.

Referring to the exemplary disclosure of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, 11 represents a television receiver having a screen 12 upon which televised material appears. The invention contemplates the periodic broadcast of a definite image which appears on the screen 12. Such image is best illustrated in FIG. 2, as at 13, and it preferably consists of a shaded rectangular area 14 having a pattern comprised of a spoke or spokes 15 defined by unshaded areas permitting light to pass through. Alternately, the pattern 15 can 'be black lines on a clear area. The spoke or spokes of pattern 15, here illustrated as three in number, radiate from the longitudinal and lateral centers of the area 14 so that their relative positions, circumferentially, are not varied when viewed on a small screen (FIG. 4) or on a large screen (FIG. 5). The image may also include one or more index marks 16 on its edge margins for purposes to be made known presently.

The viewers card, illustrated in one embodiment in FIG. 3, comprises preferably, a sheet 17 of transparent or translucent material having an opaque overlay on its surface rendering the overlay area insensible to the transmission of light. The areas are not covered by said overlay preferably comprise a series of spokes 18 radiating from a common center. The sheet or card also bears on at least some of its margins, locating indicies 19. The card will also carry on its top face one, two or three symbols 21 each located at the terminal end of a spoke 18. These symbols 21 can be overprints or they can be transparent. The location of these symbols 21 will vary in different cards.

In use, when a televised pattern such as the image 13 appears on the television screen 12, a viewer holding one of the cards 17 will hold the card over the televised image, using the locating indices 19 and marks 16 to obtain proper register. Now, if one or more of the spokes of the televised pattern 15 register with one or more of the spokes 18 hearing a symbol 21, the holder of the card is deemed to be a winner. Since it is proposed that the televised pattern remain visible for a predetermined period of time, the holder of two or more cards 17 can attempt matching of each.

Matching of the spokes 18 with the projected pattern 15 will be obtained irrespective of the size of the televised pattern. For example, in FIG. 4, a. card 17 is shown superposed over a pattern 15 as it appears on a small sized screen. In FIG. 5 the same card is superposed over the same televised pattern as it appears on a screen of larger size. In both of these examples the spokes 18 on the card disposed at 12 oclock and at 5 oclock each bear a symbol 21 hence the holder of such card would be entitled to an award. Should but one of the spokes 18 bearing a symbol 21 register, the holder is entitled to a lesser award whereas, should all three spokes 18 hearing such symbols 21 register, the holder is entiled to a greater award. Of course, it is within the scope of this invention to provide but one or more than three spokes with symbols 21 and the number of spokes selected for illustration purposes is not controlling.

In the FIG. 6 illustration of a modified version of a viewers card 17a, the spokes have been omitted and a transparent or translucent clear circular area 22 is shown and is provided on its peripheral margin with one, two or three of these symbols 21. When the televised pattern 15 registers with one, two or three of these symbols, the holder is deemed to be entitled to an award.

As an alternate mode of pattern display (see FIG. 7), an animated image 23 or other object can be televised for a short duration after which it is held stationary for a short period of time. During this stationary display, a portion or portions thereof, such as the arms 24 of the image, can be extended in radial directions so as to provide a definite pattern to be matched by the translucent or transparent pattern on a card such as that shown at 17a.

of course, in lieu of using a transparent or translucent sheet for the card I17 or 17a, the card can be made of opaque sheet material and die-cut to provide the requisite spokes 18 or circular area 22.

Although I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details of the structure may be modified or changed Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction described.

Iclaim:

1. The method of playing a game which comprises displaying a predetermined spoke-like pattern on a television screen and then applying over said pattern a sheet having a transparent pattern radiating in straight lines from a central transparent hub in such manner as to match as closely as possible the patterns on said screen and sheet.

2. A plurality of cards for playing a game, each card comprising a sheet of generally opaque material having therein a pattern of transparent areas radiating in straight lines from a central transparent hub, the patterns of all the cards being identical, each card having indicia arranged adjacent certain of said radiating transparent areas, the arrangement of indicia relative to said transparent areas on at least one of said cards being different from the arrangement on the others of said cards.

3. A plurality of cards for playing a game, each card comprising a sheet of generally opaque material having therein a pattern of openings radiating in straight lines from a central hub, the patterns of all the cards being identical, each card having indicia arranged adjacent certain of said radiating openings, the arrangement of indicia relative to said openings on at least one of said cards being different from the arrangement on the others of said cards.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,846,054 2/1932 Hochstetter 88-111 X 2,586,743 2/1952 Thresher et al. 1787.83 2,963,652 12/1960 Taylor et al. 1786 FOREIGN PATENTS 592,470 2/ 1960 Canada. 866,700 5/ 1941 France. 1,198,344 6/ 1959 France.

OTHER REFERENCES Electronics, June 1955, page 151.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

A. W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. THE METHOD OF PLAYING A GAME WHICH COMPRISES DISPLAYING A PREDETERMINED SPOKE-LIKE PATTERN ON A TELEVISION SCREEN AND THEN APPLYING OVER SAID PATTERN A SHEET HAVING A TRANSPARENT PATTERN RADIATING IN STRAIGHT LINES FROM A CENTRAL TRANSPARENT HUB IN SUCH MANNER AS TO MATCH AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE THE PATTERNS ON SAID SCREEN AND SHEET.
 3. A PLURALITY OF CARDS FOR PLAYING A GAME, EACH CARD COMPRISING A SHEET OF GENERALLY OPAQUE MATERIAL HAVING THEREIN A PATTERN OF OPENINGS RADIATING IN STRAIGHT LINES FROM A CENTRAL HUB, THE PATTERNS OF ALL THE CARDS BEING IDENTICAL, EACH CARD HAVING INDICIA ARRANGED ADJACENT CERTAIN OF SAID RADIATING OPENINGS, THE ARRANGEMENT OF INDICIA RELATIVE TO SAID OPENINGS ON AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CARDS BEING DIFFERENT FROM THE ARRANGEMENT ON THE OTHERS OF SAID CARDS. 